Today, on the nationally syndicated LEO Round Table law enforcement talk show, we covered this story with panelist (former Green Beret & Delta Force Operative) Scott Steiert. If you want to watch a recording of the LIVE show, click on the Rumble link below and start watching at the 38:46 timestamp:
Below is a link to the story on the Tampa Free Press website and the story itself:
Representative Pat Harrigan of North Carolina introduced a new bill on Thursday that would allow active-duty and honorably discharged special operations
www.tampafp.com
Elite Warriors Could Soon Carry Concealed Weapons Across All 50 States
Jack Kaminsky April 18, 2026 4:02 pm
Handgun (Unsplash)
Representative Pat Harrigan of North Carolina introduced a new bill on Thursday that would allow active-duty and honorably discharged special operations forces to carry concealed firearms throughout the United States.
The proposal, titled the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act, seeks to grant elite military members the same federal concealed carry privileges currently held by retired law enforcement officers. The legislation targets “qualified special operators”—personnel from units like the Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and Army Rangers—whose training and marksmanship standards often exceed those required of police.
“Federal law already trusts retired police officers to carry concealed nationwide,” Harrigan said in a statement. “That makes sense. But it makes no sense that a retired SEAL or Green Beret, someone who spent a career mastering firearms under the most demanding conditions in the world, has no equivalent recognition under federal law.”
If passed, the bill would amend the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) of 2004. That existing law allows qualified active and retired law enforcement to carry concealed weapons across state lines, regardless of local or state bans. Harrigan’s bill would expand this framework to include specific military roles, such as Special Forces communications sergeants, Navy special warfare operators, Marine scout snipers, and Air Force pararescue jumpers.
The bill specifies that this authority would be permanent for those who maintain an honorable discharge status and remain eligible under federal law to possess a firearm. Notably, the legislation removes the requirement for an annual firearms requalification, citing the high level of expertise already required for these military roles.
“This bill fixes that,” Harrigan said. “It does not create new rights or weaken any safeguard. It simply extends an existing, proven framework to the warriors who have earned it more than anyone.”
According to the bill’s text, the new rules would not undermine existing laws regarding firearm possession in “sensitive places.” To exercise these rights, operators would be required to carry photographic identification issued by the Department of Defense or the VA that confirms their status.
The move comes as concealed carry numbers continue to climb. As of mid-2024, the U.S. Concealed Carry Association reported nearly 22.9 million permit holders nationwide. Under the proposed timeline, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would have 180 days to implement a program for issuing the necessary identification cards if the bill becomes law.
